Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-31
at is all right" responded the senorita.

at is all right" responded the senorita.
1.-The stream is not deep at this point. l
am going to ford it. and on the other side
of wonder hill my brother and his compan-
ions await me. When you return to your
comrades tell them that you did your duty.
God bless you, senior, and farewell"
Before he could speak the senorita was
halfway across the river. As she disap-
peared in the forest on the other side she
waved her hand, and the corporal heartily
responded.
".Ugh Don't ask me-" was Corporal
Johns reply to the questions OF his COM
rades II did my duty. That is enough"
! There were other things demanding
their attention. and the fate of the Mexican
lad was not very searchingly inquired into.
II am a great fool to fight duel"
said John Conway, as he finished his toilet
and viewed his face in the glass. "but
when fellow is in Paris he must do as
the Parisians do"
| Conway gave an extra twist to his mus
tache, and continued talking to himself
| ut is strange. l fought through our
war and was mixed up in the Macmillan
business. have done my share OF shoot
ing and being shot at. but | never yet
stood up in cold blood to exchange shots
with a man. don't like it."
| So many years had elapsed since Con.
WAYS military experience that the pros
pect of fight no longer stirred his blood.
He was not an old man, but the fiery ardor
oil youth was thing of the past. After
years of adventurous speculation in the
mining regions of the west. fortune had
favored him. and. for the first time in his
life he was realizing one of the dreams of
his youth, visit to Paris.
Unfortunately, he had been drawn into
political controversy in a cafe with a
member of the Mexican legation, Senior
Gomez, a gentleman whose great wealth
and beautiful wife were at that time the
talk of Paris. In the heat of the discus
sion. Conway had given mortal otfensa to
the Mexican. The result was challenge.
and the American had accepted. selecting
pistols and fixing the hour Tor 5 O'Clock
that afternoon, the place chosen being Il
suburban forest notorious for its affairs Of
honor.
While the American was wondering
| whether he had sulli :ient appetite for
breakfast, there was tap at his door.
| Opening it he saw to his surprise Senior
Gomez, who advanced into the room with
a grave cOuntenance. in which various
emotions were struggling for expression.
John Conway Unfortunately fell ba * in
amaZement at beholdng this unexpected
visitor.
"Senor Conway" said Gomez, "this
visit under the circumstances is unheard
of. 1t is irregular, but You Americans are
always prepared for the unexpected.
am here, Senior. to apologize for my con-
duct, and to withdraw my challenge. |
deeply regret my offensive language, and
hasten to retract it. 1t is my purpose to
inform the en'emen. who know some.
thing OF the affair between us, that we
have no quarrel. and that re- gard you as
one of the bravest and noblest of men"
Conway looked into the Mexican's eyes
and saw sincerity there.
"Senor Gomez" he said II am at a
loss to understand all this"
"Listen - exclaimed the other, impa-
tiently. Last night at the opera my wife
saw a face that recalled the greatest peril
of her life. She studied it through her
glass and became convinced that she was
right. When she met me at our hotel
after my return from the cafe where we
had our unfortunate difference she told
me all and begged me TO search out her
preserver. SO, Corporal John, | thank
you in the name of my wife,
Then seeing that the American was
more mystfied than ever, Gomez contin.
ued:
Have you forgotten your capture of a
young Mexican in Sonora when you were
with Bazaine? Instead of obeying orders
and executing the prisoner, her sex and
her wrongs excited your sympathy and
you released her?"
at all comes back to me-" said Con-
way, eAcitedly. Yes; it is impossible
for me TO forget it. And the senorita
made good her escape and is now your
wife! You are to be congratulated. senior.
upon securing such heroine"
The two were now unconsciously clasp
ing hands.
You see that we cannot fight, laughed
Gomez, with tear in his eye.
"Ridiculous." said Conway.
Every WE'LL" remarked the other,
take it tor granted may tell the sonora
that You will spend the evening with US.
You cannot refuse"
Corporal John did not refuse, but when
the brilliant Mexican beauty overwhelmed
him that evening with her thanks he grew
very thoughtful. When his visit was over
and he was on his way homeward the
American several times broke out with:
"Confound it all, when she was nv
prisoner, why the devil didn't | keep
herr"
And yet Corporal John was not alto
gether phappy.-WALLACE p. REED, in
the atlanta Constitution.